A couple of months ago the management of GREEN VALLEY/ST ANDREWS GOLF CLUB invited various weekly golf group organizers from PATTAYA SPORTS CLUB, IPGC and others to attend a meeting to discuss certain aspects of the past few months and the coming low season.

One of the main points they wished to communicate to all who attended was to apologize for some of the unfortunate misunderstandings regarding overbooking of the first tee on many occasions. Other topics would include course changes and future policy.

The meeting turned out to be one of great interest and proved to be very constructive. It was quite obvious that the management were keen to try and encourage future good relations with all groups. A free round of golf at St. Andrews 2000 after the meeting could only make the spirit even better!

Klaus Schackt, a long time member of Green Valley, had helped the Management Group to better understand the farrang way of thinking and their requirements.

At the end of the meeting Klaus unveiled their plan to organize a 144 player strong competition in the way of a four ball scramble with a shot gun start. This was greeted with huge delight, especially when it was announced that the only cost would be the caddy fee of 250 baht. I have never seen a competition fill up so quickly.

And so the day came upon us. The weather was set fair, although a little hot but with a nice breeze to keep the humidity down.

After many days leading up to the competition where poor old Klaus had to contend with many changes over the phone the final start sheet was compiled and the transport buses ferried everyone to their respective start holes to await the BIG BANG? AND IT WAS!

One of the topics of the original meeting was to announce the changing round of the course back to having what is now the 5th hole reverting back to the 1st. This would have been superb for my two teams who had been drawn out to start on 2nd hole. This would have been quite a nice comfortable par 4 to start on. Somewhere prior to the game the idea of changing the course round was abandoned which meant my two groups were, in fact starting on the par 3 surrounded by lots of water. YOU WICKED MAN, YOU? Never mind both teams managed to record a par.

What a stroke of genius to decide to draw a circle around every hole on the greens so as to accept that any ball played within it could be assumed a gimme. This seems to be a great way to speed up a scramble. And it did.

After the game it was shower time and into the main ballroom for food and drink (again supplied free of charge by the Green Valley management) and to await the prize presentation. The food was very adequate and the free beer soon disappeared, (No surprise)

The result of the tournament was: -

1st PLACE; (Nett 56.3) HARRY RILEY, DAVE STOCKMAN, MARK WILLIAMSON & PAUL BUTLER.

2nd PLACE; (Nett 56.9) BRUCE TOLLIT, DAMIEN TRANT, JAMES SAVAGE & PHONSE McGAHAGN

3rd PLACE; (Nett 57.2) ROY THORNTON, GRANT CADELL, BARRY TRAYLING & RICK HOLMES. 

As you can see all of these players received a very handsome trophy each, presented by the general manager of Green valley, KHUN NIRAND.

After the main prizes were handed out it was time for the lucky draw. Thank god for lucky draws. It’s the only way a lot of players (including myself) can ever win anything.

Again, it has to be said the amount of lucky draw prizes and the quality was a tribute to GREEN VALLEY for their generosity. At least one member of every team won something.

After the presentation I was informed that there had been a HOLE IN ONE recorded on the day by BOB PATTERSON, but for some unknown reason either he or his team did not wish it to be publicised? No fear of a bar bill. The beer was free?

Never mind, CONGRATULATIONS FROM EVERYONE.

Finally, the object of the whole exercise was to create good will from the management of GREEN VALLEY and there was no doubt about it, they succeeded hugely.

From all the players who were treated to this event we all say a great big THANKYOU 

With the future in mind, GREEN VALLEY GOLF CLUB are to hold another day out on the 28th APRIL 2010. This will be an individual competition with special green fee rates applying on the day. For further information regarding this please contact The Information Desk in the Club House. 

Mike Gerrard. 

PP Klaus Schackt.